Container and method of closing the same



g-' 1940- H. T. sco'r'r 2210,1515

CONTAINER AND METHOD OF CLOSING THE SAME Filed Oct. 15', 1936 INVENTOR .H. T. 5001f ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1940 PATENT OFFlCE 2,210,153 CONTAINER AND MISETHOD F CLOSING THE Henry T. Scott, Toledo,

ican Sealcone Corporation,

Ohio, assignor to Amer- New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application October 15, 1936, Serial No. 105,704

3 Claims.

This invention relates to containers made of suitable material, such as paper and the like, particularly adapted for the distribution of milk and other liquids, and while the invention is ap- 5 plicable to containers of diilerent forms and structures it relates particularly to containers including a side wall orbody portion with closure means at one end to constitute the bottom of the container, and the opposite end constituting the l0 filler opening closed by moving or pressing together opposite wall portions of said end of thecontainer which are secured and sealed in said condition, as shown in Patent No. 1,699,549.

In this method of closing and sealing the filler ll end of the container great difliculty has been experienced in providing not only a liquid tight seal between the closure means and container but to maintain such seal, since the seal is readily broken, with a consequent leakage of the contents from the container, by strains and stresses transmitted to the closed-filler end and by forces applied to the container from within or outside of the container. Furthermore, in packing containers of this character in cartons or crates for 25 storage or shipping, containers are first assembled in the carton or crate in rows in upright position supported from the bottom end and then containers in inverted position are engaged between adjacent containers of a row of containers to be supported at the closed filler end and at opposite containers that tends to spread apart such pressed-together portions with a consequent opening of the container and leakage of the contents therefrom.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved container to overcome the above disadvantages and an improved method of closing the filler endof the container, whereby when the filler opening is closed the closureparts add rigidity to and reinforce said end of the container and when sealed in closed condition maintain the closure parts in closed condition and prevent a change in the form ofthe closure' parts that will break the sealduring the handling of'the container, and arrange the closure parts whereby one of said closure parts will support the other 55 part thereby not only forming a particularly strong closed end, but one part will exert a closing force on the other of said parts of the container and retain the same in closed condition.

It is anotherobject of the invention to provide a container having a straight-line side wall or body arranged with closure means at one end to constitute the bottom of the container, and provide an improved method of closing the opposite end constituting the filler opening of the container by pressing together opposite wall pertions at said end and arranging said closure portions in arcuate shape transversely of the container and adapting the inner portion of said pressed-together portions to serve as a truss to the outer portion and add rigidity to andreinforce said end of the container, and adhesively bonding said closure parts together to seal-the same.

It is another object of the invention to provide a container of this character wherein the parts of the container are secured together by a thermoplastic adhesive material by providing a blank adapted to be shaped to and constitute the container body, and prior to forming the container body, with a thermoplastic adhesive material; whereby a portion of the blank that is adapted to be lapped over another portion to form the side seam of the container body, the part to contact the closure member for the one end of the container, as well as wall portions constituting the closure parts at the filler end that are .pressed together and contacted, are adapted to be adhesively bonded together under pressure and an elevated temperature.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a container which may be manufactured, packed, closed and sealed in an economical manner substantially entirely by automatic machinery, whichrequires a minimum of material, which may be constructed of a relative light and thin material and at the same time be strong, durable and leakproof, and provide a single service container that is tamperproof.

The invention relates to a container wherein the side wall or body is constructed of a blank shaped to form the body of the container and a closure member is secured in one end of the body to constitute the bottom of the container and the opposite end to constitute the filler opening closed by pressing together opposite wall portions at said end of the container, and it is a ,further object of the invention to provide an improved construction and arrangement of blank for a container body whereby when the filler opening of the container is closed the edges of the closure closed.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a blank to form the container body arranged with a strip of thermoplastic adhesive material disposed relative to a side and the opposite ends of a surface of the blank.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the end of the container with the filler opening the body of which is constructed from a blank as shown in Figure 2 and showing the relation of the edge of opposite wall portions of the container prior to pressing said parts together to close the filler opening of the container.

Figure 4 is a plan view of members movable toward and away from each other between which the filler end of a container is adapted to be engaged and adapted to be closed by the movement of said members toward each other and subjected to pressure and an elevated temperature to seal the same and simultaneously longitudinally fiuting the closed, and sealed portions and showing the same in container-closing and sealing position.

Figure-5 is a cross-sectional view of the container-closing and sealing members taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showe ing the container closing and sealing members in spread position and the end of a container with the filler opening engaged between the same preparatory to closing and sealing the same.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the container shown in Figure 1 and taken substantially on the line 'I-'l of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the relation of the pressed-together and, sealed parts; and Figure 8 is a detail view in section to show the manner of securing abottom closure in the body.

In carrying out the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing there is provided a died-out blank B out from a sheet or web of the material from which the container is to be made, and from which blank the body or side wall of the container is constructed byshaping the same to tubular form about a mandrel or horn with a marginal portion of one side lapped over and adhesively secured to a marginal portion at the opposite side under pressure and an elevated temperature for which purpose the blank is provided, as shown, with a strip 8 of thermoplastic adhesive material. As shown the blank is adapted to form a container body of truncated conical form in which a closure is adapted to be secured in the end of larger diameter to constitute the bottom of the container, and the opposite end to constitute the filler opening of the container closed by pressing together opposite wall portions to lie in contiguous relation and secured in said condition. For this purpose, as shown in Figure 2, there is provided a blank of quadrilateral form. The opposite longitudinal side edges of the blank 9, l0 converge at the same angle from one end to the opposite end of the blank, the edge of the blank between the diverging ends of the side edges being of convex arcuate form and consisting of an arc of a circle whose center lies in a line extending vertically or perpendicularly to said arcuate end and substantially centrally between the terminals of said edge of the blank. The blank at the juncture of said arcuate edge with the side edge I0 is cut away on an obtuse angle to said side edge l0, said cut away portion being of a width equal to the width of a marginal portion at said side of the blank, as indicated by the dot and dash line H, to be overlapped by a marginal portion at the opposite side of the blank, as represented by the dot and dash line 12, in securing the blank together to form the container body.

The edge of the blank of the portion of less width between the converging ends of the side edges of the blank is of reversely curved or sinuous form, the successive arcuate portions of which edge are in an arc of a circle having the same radius and a radius greater than the convex curved edge of the blank, and extending from one side edge, as the edge ill, to the opposite edge 9. One of said edge portions M is of concave form and extends between the longitudinal side edge l0 and a dot and dash line It to constitute one-half of the side wall of the container body. The successive reversely curved portion it extends between the dot and dash lines it and I2 substantially equal in length to and constituting the opposite side wall of the container body, being of convex form, and the successive curved portion 16 extending between the dot and dash line l2 and the side edge 9 of the blank, constituting the overlapping portion of the blank, being of concave form. The thermoplastic adhesive surface 8 as shown is substantially equal in width to the overlapped portion, and as shown correspondingly formed strips 8', 8" of thermoplastic adhesive material are disposed at the top and bottom marginal portions of the blank for a purpose hereinafter described. The radii of the arcuate portions M, 5 and I6 are approximately one-third greater than the radius of the arcuate edge between the converging ends of the side edges of the blank at the opposite end of the blank. In shaping the blank to tubular form the side marginal portion with the adhesive surface 8 is lapped over the opposite marginal portion to an extent substantially equal to the width between the edge ill and the dot and dash line H and subjected to pressure and an elevated temperature to render the thermoplastic adhesive material 8 viscous and cause the surfaces to be bonded together. In the end of larger diameter of the container body so formed there is inserted a flanged bottom disk preferably of a somewhat stiffer material than the material of the blank, although this is not absolutely essential, with the flange of the disk extending outwardly and lying contiguous to the inner surface of the container body within the adhesive surface 8" and said bottom disk secured in the body by rolling the end of the body and disk flange upon themselves, preferably inwardly as shown in Figure 8, under pressure and an elevated temperature, although the same may be subjected to an elevated temperature after said portions are rolled together, to render'the thermoplastic adhesive material viscous and cause the contiguous surfaces of the container body and bottom disk to be bonded together.

In a container so formed the edge l5 at the filler opening and extending for substantially one-half the circumference of the container body from the juncture of said edge with the over- 7 lapped marginal portion will be arranged of upwardly extending convex form while the opposite edge portion it will be arranged to downwardly extending concave form, as shown in Figure 3; In this condition of the container, to

close the filler opening the container is positioned so that the portion with the arcuate edge l5 between the dot and dash lines l2, I3 is in opposed relation to the portion with the arcuate edge H between the side edge l and the dot and dash line l3 with the portion at the arcuate edge It overlapping the marginal portion l0. When the portion with the arcuate edge I is pressed and moved toward the portion with the edge ll, thereby causing the intermdiate portion of the edge It: to be displaced downwardly relative to the opposite end portions thereof, and the intermediate portion of the edge ll to be moved upwardly relative to the end portions thereof so that as the adhesive surface of said portions are brought into contact; said edges l4, l5 will extend in the same plane substantially parallel to the bottom of the container, as shown at IT in Figures 1 and 5. In said condition they are subjected to pressure and an elevated temperature to render the thermoplastic adhesive material viscous and cause a bonding together of said wall portions and sealing of the closed filler opening. By this method of collapsing or pressing together said portions the side edge III at the closed end is at one end of the closed container end, as at I8 in Figure 1, in abutting relation with the fold of the marginal portion 9 effected by the pressure. The side edges of the blank in the open condition of the container extend substantially in a straight line for the full length of the container body, and when the filler opening is closed are caused to assume a spiral form in the longitudinal direction thereof which causes the marginal portion 3 to exert a forcein an inward direction toward the marginal portion l0, and the marginal portion H! to exert a force in an outward direction toward the marginal portion 9 and thus hold the marginal portions 9, III in firm contact with each other. As the portion of the container with the arcuate edge I5 is pressed and moved toward the portion with the arcuate edge I4 of the'portion of the container between the ends of the arcuate portion i5 is caused to assume concave form and extending in a direction longitudinally of the container, as shown at H! in Figure l, which concave portion not only serves to truss said end of the container but also the opposed portion of the container wall adjacent the arcuate edge It; and the two por tions co-operate to truss each other not only add rigidity to but also reinforce the filler end of'the container. To further reinforce the closed filler end the portions adhesively bonded together are interlocked, which is effected by laterally offset-- ting said portion and longitudinally fluting the same, and as shown at oflset laterally from the convex toward the concave side; but it will be obvious that it may be ofiset in the opposite di- 1 rection and produce the same result.

In Figures 4, 5 and 6 there is shown means carrying out the method of closing-and sealing the filler opening of the container, comprising a pair of heads 2|, 22 supported to have movement away from and toward each other-and when moved away from each other or spread permitting of the engagement of the filler end of the container 0 between said heads, and as they are moved toward each other pressing and moving one side wall portion of the container at the filler for I opening toward the opposite wall portion to close said flller opening and seal the same. The one head 2| is arranged with a concave face 23 intermediate the ends 24 thereof to conform to the curvature, and of a length substantially the same or slightly greater than the length of, the outer convex portion of the closed container end with the edge l4.

opposed relation to the concave face 23 of the head 2| but being in an arc of a circle having a radius somewhat less than the arcuate'face 23 of the head 2| and to correspond with the curvature, and of a length slightly less tlran the length of the inner concave'portion, of the container at the filler end with the arcuateedge I5. The concave ranged with a rib 21 and the opposed face 25 of the head 22 is arranged with a correspondingly formed recess 28, whereby as the heads are brought together the closure parts of the opposed portions of the container wall will be offset laterally providing the flute 20. and thereby interlocking the pressed-together closure parts of the container wall. By arranging the arcuate faces 23, 25 of the heads as described the ends of the pressed-together closure parts are pinched or crimped together at the folds with the result that the outer arcuate portion at the edge I4 will exert a force on the inner arcuate portion at the edge |5 to urge and retain said portion in contiguotis relation to the opposed arcuate or curved wall portion.

When the container is portions l4 and I5 lie in stable relation to each other, the'inner portion l5 being very slightly tion were the precise length ofthe outer edge portion and thus tended to force the filling edge of the container out of its arcuate pressed-together shape. On the other hand, by forcing the inner portion I! by hand away from the portion H a sufficient distance to cause it to assume a position concave to the concave side of the portion M, the open end of the container will remain in a stable open position convenient for discharging the contents of the container. By merely snapping the wall portion l5 back to the portion H, the container will again remain closed without the necessity of applying a closure.

To subject the pressed-together closure portions at the filler end to an elevated temperature so formed, the edge The other head 22 has a con- 1 vex face 25,intermediate the ends 26 thereof in,

face 23 of the head 2| is arto render the thermoplastic adhesive material on said surface viscous and cause the same to be bonded together, the heads 2|, 22 are heated by suitable means, shown as comprising an electric heating device, shown in a conventional manner at 29 as mounted within the heads.

By the method of closing the filler opening of a container and sealing the closed filler opening in closed condition as described there is provided a single service container wherein the closure I parts not only add rigidity to and reinforce the container, and form a particularly strong closed end that will prevent breaking of the seal during handling of the container, but the one closure part will exert a force on the other closure part to urge the parts to and retain them n closed position. Furthermore, the arcuate shape of the closed end of the containers will greatly strengthen the containers for support. in an in- I verted position as described above.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a container including a conical body of pliable fibrous material and a closure disk secured in the end of larger diameter of the body and the opposite end constituting the filler opening of the container having a concave edge portion equal to one-half the circumference of the container at said end and an opposed convex edge portion equal to onehalf the circumference of the container at said end and closed by engaging the portion having the convex edge with the portion having the concave edge and shaping said engaged portions to arcuate form transversely of the container and adhesively secured in said condition.

2. As an article of manufacture, a blank for forming a container body of truncated conical form, comprising a died-out sheet of quadrilateral form having opposite side edges'converging from one end to the opposite end of the blank, the edge of the blank between the diverging ends of the side edges to constitute the base of the container being in the arc of a circle whose center lies in a line extending vertically to said edge midway the side edges of the blank and the opposite edge of the blank between the converging side edges to constitute the filler end of the container arranged with reversely curved arcuate portions extending from the longitudinal center of the blank toward the opposite side edges and being of equal length and of a length substantially equal to one-half the circumference of the container body at the filler end.

3. As an article of manufacture, a blank to form the body of a container having opposite side edges converging from one end to the oppo- 5 site end of. the blank, the edge of the blank between the diverging ends of the side edges to constitute the base of the container being in the arc of a circle whose center lies in a line extending perpendicular to said end midway the side edges, and the edge at the opposite end of the blank between the converging side edges to constitute the filler end of the container arranged with successive reversely curved portions, one curved portion extending from the longitudinal center of 15 cave portion, and said convex portion merging 25 in-aconcave portion extending to the edge of the blank equal to the width of a marginal portion of the blank to be lapped over the marginal portion at the opposite side of the blank when the blank is shaped to container body form. 30

HENRY T. SCOTT. 

